Everything Else.
Words: 463
Couple: Andy McNally and Nick Collins.
TV Show: Rookie Blue.
Disclaimer: All characters you recognize do not belong to me. Direct quotes used are from 4x09
AU 4x09
Established Andy/Nick.

…

"So Chris and Denise are coming to town," Andy says casually, her fingertip curling over the top of Nick's newspaper and pulling it down so she can see him over the top of it.
"Yes, and?"
"Well I offered to look after Christian, to give them time to settle in."
"And?"

He looks up, meeting her unimpressed stare. Nick Collins knew exactly what she was insinuating, but now in the habit of trying to make the woman use her 'big-kid' words, he wasn't going to let her get away with him agreeing to something she actually hasn't told him about. Like a big kid.

"Will you come with me?" she asks, rolling her eyes, "I was going to take him to the park, and the maybe for some breakfast afterwards."
"Sounds great."
Andy lets out a huffed breath, "Will you come with me?" she repeats, "Please?"
"I would be honored to join you," he smiles, pulling the newspaper away from her crooked finger, closing it and setting it neatly on the kitchen bench.

Andy smiles, it reaches her eyes and shows him a full set of teeth. She leans across the bench and plants both hands on his face to kiss him. Her lips smack loudly as she pulls away, and leaves him where he's sitting, off to the bathroom to get ready for their shift.

"I'm dating a child," Nick murmurs to himself, standing up and following after her without hesitation.

…

Andy can feel her hands shaking, sitting on the chair outside the D's office, waiting for Sam Swarek to call her inside. They were trembling in her lap, and she tried her hardest to keep them still.

"Andy," Nick whispers, turning to face her, head ducked down, "Andy, look at me."

She looks up, her hands still shaking between her knees. He notices, and reaches for them, holding them both tightly between his own.

"I left Christian, and now we-"
"No," he tells her firmly, "Andy, it is not your fault. It is not our fault. Remember that. No matter what Swarek says when you go in there."
"But I-"
"No. It is not your fault."
"Nick."
He shakes his head, "Say it. It is not my fault."

Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes. Her hands have stopped shaking, only slight tremors every few seconds.

"It's not my fault," she whispers.
"McNally," Swarek's voice calls from inside.
"It's not your fault," Nick repeats, dropping one of her hands, but lifting the other to press a kiss on her palm.

Andy nods slightly, forcefully evening out her breathing, she meets his eyes and smiles sadly. As she stands, he drops her hand, and she walks into the office.

It's not my fault, she repeats to herself. Not my fault.

…

Ugh. This episode was poop. Rewatching the 'interrogation' scene between Sam and Andy made me angry. And then Marlo? My little angel.

Oh and I apologize profusely. First year 12 began kicking my ass, a heap of family and health stuff, and then the laptop keyboard stops working so I'm scrambling for the use of a blutooth one when my brother doesn't notice it's missing. Only three more months until exams, and then everything should be back to normal.

Hopefully.

This is the second last chapter – I've begun writing and planning for a sequel to this – and I'm uploading the next chapter right now to make up for my utter laziness.

Until then my dears!